Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "The Church will continue its work of evangelization and Christian witness as well as human development. As for the rest, it is difficult to predict," Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, Archbishop of Khartoum (capital of Sudan), told Fides in regards to forthcoming elections and referendums in Sudan. In 2010, there will in fact be parliamentary and presidential elections, while in 2011 a referendum is expected under which the people of South Sudan will decide whether to remain part of a unified Sudan or create an independent state.
The approaching referendum, set out in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, is raising tension in the South. In recent months there have been several clashes among the southern populations. In recent days, more than 50 people were killed and 20 injured in clashes in southern Sudan and Darfur.
"These clashes,” said Cardinal Zubeir Wako, “are caused by someone who has interest in increasing the tension in southern Sudan. Who armed the people of the villages? The people are not armed with spears, but with automatic weapons. I fear that there is a desire by all to respect the peace agreement. We need to convince both the central government in Khartoum is the Government of Southern Sudan to implement the CPA in all its aspects.”
The Cardinal added that "the Sudanese do not want a new civil war between north and south, as they know well the horrors of war, which ended recently. I just hope outside interests do not enter into the picture, for example those linked to oil, which could bring new tensions that could lead to a conflict."
As for Darfur, the western region of Sudan, since 2003 it has been the scene of clashes between army and pro-government militias and guerrilla groups, Cardinal Zubeir Wako said: "The international community is present in the region with a UN-African Union joint peacekeeping force but does not seem to do much to actually protect the local population."
"Do not you think that the issue of Darfur in the west may have hidden other African tragedies, such as the crisis in eastern Congo," we asked the Cardinal. "I think the issue of Darfur also involves interests in the exploitation of oil, and this partly explains some press campaigns on its situation. Without belittling the suffering of those people, I must add that at this moment some areas of southern Sudan are suffering more than Darfur."
Strong emotion was aroused by the account told by Bishop Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura Yambio, of the crucifixion of 7 parishioners by a group of rebels. According to Cardinal Zubeir Wako, the crime was committed by the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army), the Ugandan guerrillas who for several years have been acting in northern Congo, South Sudan, and Central Africa. "I wonder how it is possible that a group that is so similar to others being hunted down by the armies of Uganda, DR Congo, and South Sudan, with the support of the UN, is able to move from one country to another without facing any consequences, terrorizing the local population. It is a matter that should be investigated," says the Cardinal.
Finally, we asked His Eminence what he thought of the rent of huge tracts of African lands by countries outside Africa to produce food to meet their needs. "This shows that African hunger can be overcome with an adequate investment. Also in Sudan, there are foreign countries that are using modern agricultural systems, even in Darfur. I saw one with solar panels and modern irrigation systems. Local farmers, however, are expelled from their land and sent to add on to the populations living in the poorest neighborhoods of cities, creating conditions for new tensions and violence. It is therefore a very dangerous process for the stability of several African countries.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 20/11/2009)
